About Heather W. Ernst
Links
Education
1986 - 1988
U. of Colo. | Denver | CO | USA
1981 - 1982
Inst. for Arch. + Urban Studies | NY | NY | USA
1979 - 1983
Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | NY | USA
Awards
1987
Robert K. Fuller Award
1987
A.I.A. Colorado Grant
Upcoming events
Event: LAST STANZA | Heather W. Ernst
Dates: 1 May 2018 - 31 May 2108
Energetic, forceful and unforgettable. Abstract Expressionist and Abstract Landscapes in acrylic and multimedia pant pastel, and charcoal.
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Previous events
Event: Arts at the Armory | Tacoma 2021
Dates: 16 Oct 2021 - 17 Oct 2021
A unique interactive arts experience at TACOMA ARMORY with music, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, literary, video, design, digital, and dance.
Event: Star Bazaar | Tacoma 2021
Dates: 20 Aug 2021 - 20 Aug 2021
STAR BAZAAR reimagines an unexpected outdoor space in downtown Tacoma and brings together more than 50 local artists and entrepreneurs.
Event: Maple Valley Arts Fest | 2021
Dates: 11 Jun 2021 - 13 Jun 2021
While we are saddened the crowds will not be able to gather at the Lake Wilderness Lodge for the annual weekend tradition, we are pleased to continue our support for the Arts and artisans through this virtual event.
Event: Art of the Quarantine | Part 2
Dates: 20 Mar 2021 - 1 May 2021
Art of the Quarantine started at The Cave Gallery in Vancouver, WA in the spring of 2020. Helen S. Smith Gallery extended the exhibition, using the theme as a prompt for an expanded community conversation.
Art of the Quarantine Part 2 takes the conversation further as the global pandemic forges on. This virtual exhibition is a way for the gallery to support artists, build community and dive into a bigger academic conversation about the role of art in our lives.
Event: SPARK
Dates: 14 Nov 2020 - 15 Dec 2020
Heather W. Ernst’s work makes intangible emotions and forces of nature visible on her vivid mixed-media paintings. She brings them to you in a Covid cautious and compliant WorkSphere Tacoma.
Event: PERMANENT ROTATING SOLO EXHIBIT
Dates: 14 Nov 2020 - 31 Dec 2021
What does happiness look like? Answer: Heather’s W. Ernst’s paintings. Come see how they make you feel! Get a peek at the invisible chatter of nature and how it sneaks around.
We can’t wait to see you on Saturday, Nov. 14th at 1120 Pacific during the Grand Opening of Tacoma’s newest coworking space, WorkSphere Tacoma!
For more information about Heather Ernst visit: www.heatherart.studio
Event: ARTIST in FOCUS | Tacoma ARTS MONTH
Dates: 20 Oct 2020 - 31 Oct 2020
Work by Heather W. Ernst |~
Virtual spotlight on Tacoma cultural talent.
Event: TACOMA STUDIO TOUR | Tacoma Arts Month
Dates: 12 Oct 2019 - 13 Oct 2019
96 artists welcome you into their studios for an interactive experience.
Event: PRECISION and VERVE
Dates: 15 Aug 2019 - 15 Aug 2019
Hoyt Crace foils his intensely precise drawings with Heather W. Ernst’s outlandishly happy, luminous paintings.
Heather W. Ernst’s collectors say her paintings shout, “I am alive!”, and say her work “Makes me so happy!”. Heather’s abstract landscapes and abstract expressionist work is found in private collections throughout the US, UK, New Zealand and Germany. She is a retired architect from Auburn, WA.
Hoyt Crace is a self-taught artist from Lakewood, WA. He specializes in intricate and unique drawings using only a simple ball point pen. Hoyt won the “People’s Choice” award at the 2018 Lakewood FAB [Film, Art, Book] Fest.
Event: ENERGY and ABSTRACTION - Paintings by Heather W. Ernst
Dates: 3 Jun 2019 - 26 Jun 2019
Heather’s painting expresses the solace and joy we feel in nature's embrace. This feeling is an archetypical myth we all subconsciously share, and it binds humanity together. When Heather began painting in 2013, her work was exacting and rectilinear, reflecting her two and a half decades as a practicing architect . The life long exposure she had to proportion, depth, and balance was easy to see in her initial abstract work. She now paints with a soft, organic energy.
Event: SPIRIT | Heather W. Ernst
Dates: 3 Mar 2019 - 30 Apr 2018
Heather W. Ernst exhibits a full one hundred linear feet of abstract expressionist and abstract landscape visions. She ignites spirited emotion and calm, mystical landscapes, and celebrations of exuberant joy through her vibrant use of color.
Event: HOTEL MURANO | Art + Wine Night | Tacoma Art Walk
Dates: 17 Jan 2019 - 17 Jan 2019
Local artisans af all mediums; painting, glass and jewelry on display for a night of shopping.
Event: GALA FANTASTIQUE! | Symphony Tacoma Auction
Dates: 16 Nov 2018 - 16 Nov 2018
Heather's Piece "Last Stanza" receives highly spirited bidding at almost 150% retail value as a donation to Symphony Tacoma. Patrons dine and are entertained by Berlioz's Symphony Fantatique during live auction.
Event: GRANDE AUTUMN SHIZZLE | Heather W. Ernst
Dates: 1 Apr 2018 - 31 May 2018
Local Abstract Expressionist and Abstract Landscape painter, Heather W. Ernst exhibits stunning large and small stunning format in acrylic on canvas as well as multimedia acrylic, pastel and charcoal. Her forceful expressionist work is unforgettable, and her landscapes playful, yet calm.
Event: FIRST FRIDAY OPEN STUDIOS | Heather's Studio No. One
Dates: 23 Nov 2017 - 31 May 2018
I get between 100-200 people through my Studio #1 on the first Friday of every month as well as street traffic and sales at any time in between. Why don't you come by and show me your beautiful face... I'd love to see you!
Event: SOUND and COLOR | Works Inspired by Kandisky
Dates: 6 Oct 2017 - 31 Oct 2017
Abstract work inspiring psychological, physical and emotional responses; the neurological synesthesia evoking color and visual rhythms triggered by music.
Event: LITTLETON FIRST FRIDAY ARTS
Dates: 4 Aug 2017 - 4 Aug 2017
Outnumbered Gallery Hosts Friends of Outnumbered at the Historic I. W. Hunt Building, 2309 W Main St, Littleton, Colorado, United States
Event: DENVER FIRST FRIDAY ARTS
Dates: 2 Jun 2017 - 3 Nov 2017
Denver Prism members and Friends of Prism open their studios and exhibit their work each first friday of every month to promote the Denver Art District.
Event: ROX ARTS COUNCIL | Heather W. Ernst
Dates: 9 Apr 2017 - 21 May 2017
RoxArt Counsel members, who are local to this venue, rotate their exhibits of their work on a monthly basis.
Event: Denver Arts District First Friday
Dates: 4 Nov 2016 - 28 Feb 2017
Prism artists and friends of Prism by are invited to exhibit their new work. A "Meet the Arrtists" opening celebration is on Friday, November 4th 2016 at 5:50-9:00 p.m.
Event: Denver Art District First Friday
Dates: 3 Jun 2016 - 31 Aug 2016
Prism Members and Friends of Prism are invited exhibit new work and open their studios for public viewing the first night.
Event: Celebrating Denver Art Week
Dates: 6 Nov 2015 - 31 Dec 2016
Studio Members and Invited Artists celebrate an annual Denver Arts District Community Event. Commencing with a "Meet the Artists" soiree. Open to the public.
Event: Denver First Friday
Dates: 5 Jun 2015 - 30 Sep 2015
5:30pm to 9:30pm meet and greet the artists. | By special invitation from owner to Heather to exhibit selected works with creative partners.
Event: PERMANENT ROTATION EXHIBIT | Heather W. Ernst
Dates: 27 Apr 2015 - 31 Mar 2018
Special invitation by president and partner to exhibit selected pieces in a permanent solo rotating exhibit.
Event: Heather W. Ernst
Dates: 1 Nov 2014 - 11 Dec 2014
Members of the Roxborough Art Counsel are invited to exhibit current work.
Event: On the Edge
Dates: 30 Aug 2014 - 26 Sep 2014
Artist push the properties of their media to their extreme edge.
Event: Discover Local Artist Series
Dates: 1 Jul 2014 - 31 Jul 2014
Solo Exhibition in Lockheed Martin Community Room
Event: Roxborough Arts Festival
Dates: 7 Jun 2014 - 8 Jun 2014
Original works by the Roxborough Arts Counsel.
Event: Romancing the Arts | 2014
Dates: 12 Feb 2014 - 14 Mar 2014
Is your work on the Edge? Is your subject Edgy? Is your style Edgy? Original works by the Greater Castle Rock Arts Guild and accepted entrants within a fifty mine radius.
Event: Romancing the Arts | 2013
Dates: 11 Feb 2013 - 18 Mar 2013
How do you romance the paint, the brushstroke, the angle at which you perceive your piece? Original works by the Greater Castle Rock Arts Guild and accepted artists within a fifty mine radius.
Biography
Yes, despite being an abstract landscape and contemporary abstract painter, I can be very silly. I grew up in New Jersey obsessively building with Lego and Erector sets, but Tinker Toys were too boring for me. I had to move onto old school pen and ink perspectives in architecture school to further torture myself while I was learning line drawing of nudes and other things my art teacher came up with. She asked if I wanted to venture an architecture school program in Manhattan for her specially talented students. I did, and then got my master’s degree in Denver. I lived there three decades. My aerospace engineer husband brought us to Seattle in 2018.
You wouldn’t know my entire life time I’ve been learning not to doubt myself. As I sat next to a painting during a brunch out at Cafe Terra Cotta in Littleton, Colorado, one day in 2013, I said, ” I can do that ! ” I took an acrylic painting course, also continued teaching myself, and within a few months, I was asked if “Jesen Shizzle” was for sale. This began web sales for me while I continued raising my family, then directly in person from artist to collector, and it’s done nothing but grow since. This is my new season of life, as once was the architecture license I gifted myself, instead a direction towards interior design. I’m not a “should have, could have, would have” kind of person. I always make it happen come… high water.
Here I am. I’ve exhibited in solo and group exhibits throughout Colorado and Washington state. My work is found with private clients throughout the United States, U.K., Germany and New Zealand. I keep my Studio 211 on 1120 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma. I graduated with a B. of Architectural Studies and a Minor in Fine Arts from Skidmore College in conjunction with The Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York City. After my Masters of Architecture Degree from U. of Colorado in Denver, I practiced architecture in high end residential, medical and retail projects to $12M for about 25 years.
